Greg Hinz On Politics

Quinn still plans to release Medicaid, pension plans this week

This was supposed to be a really big week for Gov. Pat Quinn, with major announcements about Medicaid and pension reform — and it still could be. But it's getting kind of late.

Originally, the governor's pension reform task force was supposed to report on Tuesday about what should be done to revamp worker pension funds, which now collectively have more than $85 billion in unfunded liabilities.

But the decision was made to wait for the report of another working group, this one studying how to cut a promised $2.7 billion in spending out of the state's Medicaid program.

That report originally was due on Wednesday. But Mr. Quinn's office reports that the panel asked for more time, and he or they or both are supposed to release something Thursday afternoon.

If so, that might spring something on Friday from the pension folks. Mr. Quinn's office at last check was planning for that.

All of this is complicated stuff, and it surely is better to get the reports right the first time. But the legislative schedule calls for adjourning just six weeks from now.